CN102681870B

CN102681870B - Automatically action is performed when logging in

Info

Publication number: CN102681870B
Application number: CN201210056941.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 约翰·巴鲁斯
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-03-07
Filing date: 2012-03-06
Publication date: 2016-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-06
Also published as: US8881231B2; JP6090413B2; JP5672257B2; JP2012185824A; JP2014013608A; JP2016085748A; EP2498197A1; JP5846174B2; CN102681870A; US20120233615A1

Abstract

Automatically the technology of action is performed, for automatically performing one or more action in response to Successful login when the invention provides login.Automatically the action performed in response to login in one embodiment uses the content created before registration.

Description

Automatically performing actions upon login

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to computer systems, and more particularly, to techniques for automatically performing one or more actions in response to a successful login.

Background

Most computers require a user to log into the system before the user can access any data or applications provided by the system. The resources provided by the computer system are thus not available and can be used until the user has successfully logged in. After the user has logged in, the user may manually open one or more applications, create content using the applications, provide instructions to save the content, and so on. However, this reliance on login is very limited.

Some internet-based applications (e.g., shopping carts at many commercial web sites) allow a user to open a shopping cart and place items to be purchased into the shopping cart without requiring a login. However, to purchase an item in a shopping cart, a user must first log in and then manually perform a series of user-interactive steps to complete the purchase of the item, which associates the item with the user's account.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for automatically performing one or more actions in response to a successful login. In one embodiment, the action performed in response to the login uses content created prior to the login.

In one embodiment, a technique is provided that includes a method, system, and a plurality of executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for creating content at a first system prior to login. In response to a login at the first system, the system causes an action to be performed using the content created prior to the login.

In one embodiment, the action includes saving content created prior to the login to an account corresponding to the login.

In one embodiment, processing may be performed to determine an action to be performed based on information associated with the login.

In one embodiment, a first system may receive content from a second system remote from the first system created prior to login using the second system. The action performed uses the content received from the second system.

In one embodiment, the first system may capture information entered at the first system using a writing instrument prior to login. The first system may then determine digital information corresponding to the information entered using the writing instrument. The action performed in response to the login may use digital information.

Various actions may be performed in response to a login. In one embodiment, the action may include outputting digital information on a display surface of the first system.

In one embodiment, one or more devices of the first system may be used to capture audio or video information prior to login. The action to be performed may include performing the action using the captured audio or video information.

In one embodiment, the first system may enable login by reading a bar code or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

The above description, other features, and embodiments will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) system 100 that may include an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a network environment in which multiple IWB systems are networked via a communication network and participate in a collaborative session according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a simplified flowchart depicting a process performed by an IWB system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates information that can be used to identify one or more actions performed for a user in response to the user logging in, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a simplified flowchart depicting a process performed by an IWB system participating in a collaborative session with another IWB system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a computer system that may be used to implement an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

Fig. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) system 100 that may include an embodiment of the present invention. IWB system 100 may comprise several components including a display surface 102, a projector 104, a controller 106, and a write capture system 108. The components of system 100 depicted in FIG. 1 are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention in any way. Alternative embodiments may have more or fewer components than shown in fig. 1.

Display surface 102 (also sometimes referred to as a "whiteboard" or "drawing surface" of an IWB system) provides an input and output interface for a user of IWB system 100. As an input interface, it enables a user to provide written (also called drawing) input, which is then converted into digital information (also called a digital representation of the writing). As an output interface, digital information may be projected onto surface 102 by projector 104 so that one or more users of IWB system 100 may view the projected information. One or more users of IWB system 100 may provide input to IWB system 100 by writing using one or more writing instruments. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, user 112 may write on surface 102 using writing instrument 114. The terms writing or drawing or writing information as used in this application may include one or more characters, letters, symbols, words, sentences, tables, graphs, sketches, charts or any other type of input that can be provided using the writing tool 114. As another example, writing or drawing can include handwritten letters, numbers, or symbols in any language or format. As another example, writing or drawing can include hand-drawing a combination of graphical and textual elements.

User writes using the writing instrument are captured by write capture system 108 and communicated to controller 106, and controller 106 determines digital information corresponding to the writes. The digital information may then be transmitted to projector 104 for projection on surface 102. The digital information may be in a variety of forms, such as a time series of strokes (strokes), a pixel-based image, plain or formatted text, and so forth.

A user of IWB system 100 may write or provide input using a variety of different writing instruments. In one embodiment, the writing instrument may be a physical object that may or may not leave a visible mark on the surface 102. For example, a user may use a finger as a writing instrument to write on surface 102. Although the finger may not leave any visible marks on surface 102, the movement of the finger is captured and subsequently translated into digital information, which may then be projected onto surface 102. As another example, a user may write on surface 102 using a pointer or stylus as a writing instrument, which may not leave any physically visible marks on surface 102. In other embodiments, the user may also use a writing instrument that leaves a visible mark on surface 102. For example, a user may write on surface 102 using a pen or a conventional dry erase marker. The user's writing is captured, digital information corresponding to the writing is determined, and then the digital information is projected on surface 102.

In one set of embodiments, writing instrument 114 may also be used to interact with IWB system 100 in other ways in addition to writing. For example, in one embodiment, the writing instrument 114 may be used to erase previously written information.

Surface 102 may be a passive or active surface. In one embodiment, surface 102 may be a passive surface that only receives markings from a pen, rather than being able to be recognized by an external sensor (e.g., a camera). For example, the display surface 102 may be a conventional, old-fashioned opaque whiteboard. In another embodiment, surface 102 may be an active surface, such as a surface containing sensors (e.g., from Wacom, inc., japan). Such sensors contain an antenna and interact with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) pen containing a passive coil. By activating the antenna in a particular way, the pen can be triggered and the antenna can measure the pen's response to the antenna and identify the pen's location and orientation. Other active surfaces include resistive touch systems that measure changes in resistance to identify the location of an object pressing against the screen. Other examples of active surfaces include a glass plate surrounded by infrared LEDs that use "frustrated total internal reflection" (FTIR) to allow a camera to capture the position of a finger or pen on a surface or capacitive touch screen (such as the screen provided on iPad and iPhone devices of apple inc, cupertino, ca, usa).

Write capture system 108 is used to capture writes made by a user using writing instrument 114. The write information captured by write capture system 108 may then be sent to controller 106 for further processing. Write capture system 108 may include one or more components that allow for capturing writes made using writing instrument 114. For example, in embodiments using a writing instrument that leaves visible marks on surface 102, writing capture system 108 may include a camera positioned in front of surface 102 and used to capture images of surface 102, where the captured images include the visible marks left on surface 102 using writing instrument 114. The captured images may then be transmitted to the controller 106, and the controller 106 is used to process the images to determine digital information corresponding to the visible markings made on the surface 102.

In another embodiment, write capture system 108 may include one or more sensors for capturing the motion or movement of the writing instrument as the user writes using the writing instrument. Different techniques may be used to capture motion. According to one technique, a motion sensor may be placed along surface 102 that is capable of capturing the motion of the writing instrument in a 2-dimensional plane (or in a 3-dimensional plane). The captured motion information may then be communicated to the controller 106, and the controller 106 may process the captured information to determine the user's writing and to determine digital information corresponding to the writing.

In another embodiment, write capture system 108 may include one or more pressure sensors included in surface 102 such that surface 102 is pressure sensitive. Such a pressure-mapped multi-touch surface may be made of force-sensitive resistive material sandwiched in flexible electronic circuitry (e.g., TekScan, inc. of south boston, massachusetts). In this embodiment, surface 102 may provide a multi-touch pressure sensitive surface capable of capturing writing information based on a user's touch on surface 102. The information captured by the pressure sensor may then be transmitted to the controller 106 for further processing. In one embodiment, in addition to sensing the user's writing, the pressure sensor is also capable of determining the force used by the user when writing on surface 102. The force information may also be transmitted to the controller 106 for further processing and analysis.

In another embodiment, surface 102 may be a capacitively coupled input interface, such as in the apple iPad^TMOr iPhone^TMA surface on the device. In this embodiment, surface 102 may enable a multi-touch input experience, zoom and pan capabilities, and the like. In this embodiment, a user may write on surface 102 using a finger or conductive stylus and may then transfer the write to controller 106 for further processing and analysis.

To enable capturing writes using writing instrument 114, in one embodiment, write capture system 108 may be communicatively linked with writing instrument 114. This link (which may be wired or wireless) enables write capture system 108 to capture writes made using a writing instrument.

Controller 106 serves as a central component for performing the processing that controls and enables the various functions provided by IWB system 100. Controller 106 may be operatively coupled to one or more other components of IWB system 100 and configured to control and/or coordinate the functions performed by these components. For example, controller 106 may be operably coupled to write capture system 108 and/or display surface 102 and configured to receive information captured by write capture system 108. The information received by controller 106 from write capture system 108 may be in a variety of different forms, such as pressure information, motion information, stroke information, and so forth. The controller 106 is operable to process the received information and determine digital information corresponding to the received information. The determined digital information may then be transmitted to projector 104 so as to be capable of being projected on surface 102.

The controller 106 is typically a processor-based computing device. An example of the controller 106 is shown in fig. 6 and described below. In alternative embodiments, the controller 106 may be a processor, a programmable logic device, or the like. The controller 106 may execute one or more programs (code instructions) that, when executed by a processor of the controller 106, cause processing to be performed by the controller 106.

As described above, the controller 106 is configured to determine digital information corresponding to information entered using the writing instrument. In one embodiment, as part of this process, controller 106 may be used to determine stroke information based on information received from write capture system 108 and then determine digital information corresponding to the stroke information. The stroke information may include information related to a time-ordered set of strokes. In one embodiment, a stroke may correspond to data generated by a writing instrument from when the writing instrument is engaged (for writing) until the writing instrument is disengaged. For example, in one embodiment, a stroke may correspond to data generated by a writing instrument from when the writing instrument contacts surface 102 until the contact is terminated or broken. Strokes may be considered the most basic unit for representing information entered by a user using a writing instrument. Each stroke has an associated time component indicating when the stroke was made. Information entered or written by a user using writing instrument 114 may be represented by a series or set of time-sequential strokes. The controller 106 may then determine digital information corresponding to the stroke information.

In an alternative embodiment, write capture system 108 itself can determine stroke information and communicate the stroke information to controller 106. Controller 106 may then determine the digital information directly from the information received from write capture system 108.

The digital information determined by the controller 106 may be stored locally in the non-volatile memory 122. For example, digital information determined by the controller 106 may be stored in the memory 122 as content 124. In one embodiment, the information or a portion of the information received by controller 106 from write capture system 108 may also be stored locally as part of content 124.

Accordingly, controller 106 may receive raw sensor data captured by write capture system 108 and then determine stroke information based on the raw data, or alternatively may receive stroke information from write capture system 108. The controller 106 may then determine digital information corresponding to the stroke information. In some embodiments, the digital information may be determined directly from the raw sensor data. The digital information determined by controller 106 reflects the writing using writing instrument 114. For example, if a user writes a "W" on surface 102 using writing instrument 114, the digital information determined by controller 106 may be a digital representation of the "W". Controller 106 may then communicate the determined digital information to projector 104 for projection on surface 102.

Projector 104 is used to project and display information received from controller 106 onto display surface 102. In one embodiment, projector 104 receives a signal (e.g., a video signal) from controller 106 that includes digital information determined by controller 106 that corresponds to writing with a writing instrument. Projector 104 is operative to project or output the received signal onto surface 102 such that digital information corresponding to the writing is output or displayed onto surface 102 and viewable to one or more users of IWB system 100. In one embodiment, digital information corresponding to the writing is projected onto surface 102 in the following manner: so that the digital information is projected onto the same written location on surface 102. For example, if a user writes a "W" on surface 102 using a writing instrument, digital information (e.g., the number "W") is projected onto the same location of surface 102 where the user written the "W".

In one embodiment, the projector is a short focus projector placed a short distance in front of surface 102, thereby enabling projection of digital information onto surface 102. For example, projector 104 may be an ultra-short focus projector placed in front of surface 102 and projecting information received from controller 106 onto surface 102. An example of such a projector is CP-AW250NM manufactured by Hitachi corporation. Other types of front focus projectors may be used in alternative embodiments. The projector 104 may project at different resolutions, including high resolution (e.g., 1920 x 1080).

IWB system 100 may also comprise one or more devices for capturing other types of information, such as audio, video, images, and/or other types of information. The information captured by these devices may be communicated to the controller 106. The controller 106 may use this information to perform various types of processing. For example, in one embodiment, the controller 106 may be configured to correlate information captured using these devices with digital information determined by the controller 106 based on the captured information and the temporal attributes of the digital information. In one embodiment, information captured by one or more devices may be stored locally in memory 122 as part of content 124.

For example, the capture device may include an audio recording device for capturing audio information. According to one use case, IWB system 100 may be used in a corporate conference setting and a microphone may capture audio information emitted by a participant. As shown in fig. 1, in one embodiment, a microphone may be embedded in surface 102 for optimizing the audio capture process. In alternative embodiments, the microphone may be separate from the surface 102. The captured audio information may be communicated to the controller 106 for processing and analysis.

IWB system 100 may also comprise one or more devices for capturing video and/or image information. These devices may include, for example, one or more cameras capable of capturing image or video information. In one embodiment, a camera may be positioned to capture images or video of a user of IWB system 100. For example, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 1, a camera may be associated with surface 102 so that images of one or more users located near or in front of surface 102 can be captured. The captured video/image information may be transmitted to the controller 106 for processing and analysis.

IWB system 100 may be coupled to communication network 110 and may be capable of communicating with other devices, including other IWB systems, and memories connected to communication network 110. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, IWB system 100 may be communicatively coupled to one or more servers 116 or user computers 130 via a communication network 110. The communication network 110 may be a single communication network or a collection of communication networks. The network may include the Internet, an intranet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a wireless network, a private network, a public network, a switched network, or any other suitable communication network that enables communication at IWB system 100 with other devices or systems coupled to communication network 110. One or more different communication protocols (e.g., ethernet, various wireless protocols) may be used to facilitate communications using the communication network 110.

In one embodiment, controller 106 of IWB system 100 provides a network interface that couples IWB system 100 with communication network 110 and facilitates communication via communication network 110. IWB system 100 may be connected to communication network 110 via a wired or wireless link.

The controller 106 may include one or more modules for providing the functionality provided by the controller 106. These modules may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, in one embodiment, the modules may be implemented in software (programs, code, instructions) that when executed by a processor of the controller 106 provide the functionality provided by the controller 106. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the controller 106 includes a login module 128 and an action module 126.

Login module 128 enables a user to log into IWB system 100. Login module 128 thus provides login capabilities for IWB system 100. A variety of different login techniques may be used. For example, in one embodiment, the login process may require the user to provide a user identification and password. The login module 128 may provide an interface to enable a user to enter a user identification and password. The login module 128 may be used to authenticate the provided user identification and password and enable login only in case of successful authentication.

According to another technique, the login process may be facilitated using an RFID or bar code reader/scanner provided by IWB system 100. In this embodiment, the reader may be used to read information from the RFID tag or scan a bar code. The information read from the tag or encrypted by reading the barcode may then be authenticated and used to control login. For example, a user's credentials may include an RFID tag that stores user-related information for logging into IWB system 100. To log into IWB system 100, a user may present his/her credentials in a manner that enables an RFID reader provided by IWB system 100 to read the tag information. The information read from the RFID tag on the credential can then be used to authenticate and log in the user. Various other login techniques may be used in alternative embodiments.

It should be appreciated that although IWB system 100 enables users to log in, these logs in are not a prerequisite to using the various features of IWB system 100 described above. For example, a user need not log into IWB system 100 to be able to use IWB system 100 as described above. For example, features that enable a user to create content by writing using a writing instrument, the ability to capture user writing, determine digital information corresponding to the writing, project the digital information onto surface 102, capture and process audio/video/image or other information captured by devices of IWB system 100, and store the digital information and other captured information can be performed without any user login (i.e., without being conditioned on a user logging into IWB system 100). However, as described below, logging into IWB system 100 opens up a new set of other features and/or services provided by IWB system 100. However, if the user is not interested in any of these other features and/or services, no login is required to use IWB system 100.

In one embodiment, upon successful login, login module 128 is configured to send a signal to action module 126 indicating that a successful login has occurred. The signal sent to the action module 126 may include information provided to the login module 128 or determined by the login module 128 as part of the login process. For example, in one embodiment, a user identification and password provided by the user to the login module 128 may be provided to the action module 126. The action module 126 is then used to initiate one or more actions in response to a successful login. In one embodiment, the one or more actions are automatically initiated in response to a successful login without requiring any interaction or input by a user who has successfully logged into IWB system 100.

The action module 126 may initiate a variety of different actions in response to a login. In one embodiment, the automatically initiated action or actions use content that has been created and stored prior to login. As described above, IWB system 100 may be used without a login. For example, a user may use a writing instrument to provide input, and IWB system 100 may be used to determine digital information written for the user, all without requiring a login. Accordingly, when a user logs into IWB system 100, content 124 may have been created and stored by IWB system 100 prior to the login. The content may include, for example, digital information determined by the controller 106 corresponding to input provided by the user using the writing instrument prior to login. Content 124 may also include other types of information (e.g., audio, video, image information) captured by devices of IWB system 100 prior to login. Accordingly, content 124 may include content information created and stored using IWB system 100 prior to login. In one embodiment, the one or more actions automatically initiated in response to the login use content, or a portion thereof, created and stored by IWB system 100 prior to the login.

In one embodiment, the actions performed in response to a login may be preconfigured for IWB system 100. For example, a default action may be preconfigured for IWB system 100 and executed in response to each login.

In an alternative embodiment, one or more actions performed in response to a successful login are determined based on information associated with the successful login. As described above, upon successful login, login module 128 is configured to send information related to the login to action module 126. Action module 126 may then determine a set of one or more actions to be initiated based on the received login-related information. The action module 126 may then initiate the determined one or more actions.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the one or more actions initiated in response to a login are login specific and may vary from user login to user login. For example, a first user and a second user may use IWB system 100 in a conference without logging into the system. In the meeting, the first user and/or the second user may write on surface 102 using one or more writing tools. The user's writes are captured by write capture system 108 and communicated to controller 106. The controller 106 may then determine the digital information corresponding to the write. The determined digital information is projected onto surface 102 using projector 104. The digital information may also be saved to memory 122 as content 124. At time T1, the first user may then decide to login to IWB system 100 by providing user identification information and a password. Upon successful login, login module 128 may send a signal to action module 126 indicating a successful login and including user identification information. The action module 126 may then determine and initiate an action to be performed based on the user identification information of the first user. The action may include copying and storing the content 124 (or portion thereof) stored prior to time T1 to a memory associated with a user account corresponding to the first user. At a later point in time, T2, where T2 is later than T1, a second user may login to IWB system 100 by providing user identification information and an associated password. Upon successful login, login module 128 may send a signal to action module 126 indicating a successful login of the second user and including user identification information for the second user. The action module 126 may then determine and initiate an action to be performed based on the user identification information for the second user. The action may include automatically sending the previously stored content 124 (or portion thereof) of T2 to the second user (e.g., the content may be sent as an attachment and an email to the second user). In this manner, actions initiated in response to a login are automatically determined based on the login. Further, the action uses content created and stored prior to login. Accordingly, the actions determined and initiated for a first user login may be different than the actions triggered by a second user login.

IWB system 100 may continue to capture user writing, determine digital information corresponding to the writing, project the determined digital information onto surface 102, and store the determined digital information as part of content 124 after logging in. The action automatically performed in response to the login may be periodically performed with respect to the content information stored after the login. For example, after time T1 (in the previous example), the portion of content 124 stored after T1 may be periodically stored to the user account corresponding to the first user. Similarly, after time T2, the portion of content 124 stored after T2 may be periodically transmitted to the second user.

Examples of actions that may be automatically performed in response to a login are listed below. This list is not limiting. One or more of the actions listed below may be performed automatically upon successful login.

(1) The content 124 (or portions thereof) created and stored prior to login is stored to the account corresponding to the successful login. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a server 116 coupled to IWB system 100 via communication network 110 may provide storage for a plurality of user accounts. The action performed in response to the login may include storing the content 124 (or a portion thereof) as information 120 associated with a user account 118 (e.g., a cloud-based account) corresponding to the login on the remote server. This stored information 120 may then be accessed by a user logged into the user account 118. For example, a user may log into a user account 118 using a computer 130 and discover information 120 stored under the user account. In response to a user logging into multiple IWB systems, content from multiple IWB systems may be stored to the same user account.

(2) The content 124 (or portions thereof) created and stored prior to login is transmitted to the user corresponding to the successful login. For example, the content 124 may be attached to an email and the email sent to the user corresponding to the successful login.

(3) The pre-login stored content 124 (or portions thereof) is formatted into a specified format corresponding to a successful login.

As described above, in an IWB system, a user's writing is converted to digital information, which is then projected and displayed on a surface of IWB system 100. Converting "written" information into digital information enables several operations to be performed on the electronic information now being performed on the information written on the whiteboard. When used in a collaborative setting, the true capabilities of the system are achieved. For example, two or more IWB systems may be operated in conjunction via a communication network (e.g., the Internet) and may be used in a collaborative fashion.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a network environment in which multiple IWB systems are networked via a communication network and participate in a collaborative session according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, IWB system 200 may be communicatively coupled to another remote IWB system 250 via communication network 110. IWB system 200 and IWB system 250 may each be substantially similar in configuration to IWB system 100 shown in FIG. 1.

The controller of each IWB system may provide an interface to communication network 110. For example, in FIG. 2, controller 204 may provide a network interface for coupling IWB system 200 to communication network 110, and controller 254 may provide a network interface for coupling IWB system 250 to network 110.

IWB systems 200 and 250 may participate in a collaborative session. In such a collaborative session, the IWB systems communicate information with each other such that any information written by a user of one IWB system is projected and displayed on the display surfaces of the other IWB systems participating in the session. Information written on an IWB system may also be projected and displayed on a display surface of the IWB system. In this manner, information written on the surface of one IWB system may also be displayed on the surface of other remote IWB systems participating in the session. This enables the cooperative use of remotely located IWB systems, where remote users can interact as if they were writing on the same whiteboard.

For example, in FIG. 2, a local user 208 of IWB system 200 may use a writing instrument to write on surface 202 of IWB system 200. The write capture system of IWB system 200 captures the write and controller 204 of IWB system 200 determines digital information corresponding to the write information. The digital information determined by controller 204 may then be displayed on surface 202 of IWB system 200. Controller 204 may also communicate digital information to IWB system 250, where the digital information is projected and displayed on display surface 252. In this manner, information written by user 208 on surface 202 is displayed and can be viewed by users of IWB system 200 and IWB system 250. For example, in FIG. 2, the letter "W" 220 written by user 208 on IWB system 200 is projected on surface 202 and also on surface 252 (as "W" 270), thereby enabling users of both IWB systems to view the information. In a similar manner, for any information written on surface 252 of IWB system 250, controller 254 is operable to determine digital information corresponding to the written information and to cause the determined digital information to be projected and displayed on surface 252 of IWB system 250 and on surface 202 of IWB system 200. For example, in FIG. 2, the letter "N" 260 written by user 256 on IWB system 250 is projected on surface 252 and on surface 202 (as "N" 206), thereby enabling users of both IWB systems to view the information. The manner in which information is projected on both IWB systems is such that users of IWB system 200 and IWB system 250 feel to write on the same display surface or whiteboard in a collaborative environment.

Accordingly, for IWB systems participating in a collaborative session, the information projected by each IWB system may include digital information corresponding to writing captured locally at the IWB system and digital information received from other remote IWB systems participating in the collaborative session, wherein the digital information received from the remote IWB systems includes digital information corresponding to information written locally at the remote IWB systems. For example, in FIG. 2, the information projected at IWB system 200 comprises numerical information corresponding to the letter "W" written locally at IWB system 200 and numerical information received from IWB system 250 corresponding to the letter "N" 260 written locally at IWB system 250. In one embodiment, two pieces of digital information (i.e., digital information corresponding to a local write and digital information received from a remote IWB system corresponding to a write made locally at the remote IWB system) may be cached locally by controller 204 of IWB system 200. For example, this information may be stored as content 212 in local memory 210 of IWB system 200. In a similar manner, controller 254 of IWB system 250 may store digital information corresponding to writes local at IWB system 250 and digital information received from IWB system 200 corresponding to writes made local to IWB system 200 in local memory 262 of IWB system 250 as content 264.

As described above, each IWB system may also include devices for recording other types of information, such as audio/video/image information. For IWB systems participating in a collaborative session, an IWB system may receive information captured locally at the IWB system as well as information captured locally at other IWB systems participating in the collaborative session. For example, controller 204 may receive information captured by devices local to IWB system 200 and may also receive information captured by devices local to IWB system 250 from IWB system 250. In one embodiment, the controller 204 may also store this information in the local memory 210 as part of the content 212. In a similar manner, controller 254 may receive information captured by devices local to IWB system 250 and may also receive information captured by devices local to IWB system 200 from IWB system 200. In one embodiment, controller 254 may also store this information in local memory 262 as part of content 264.

There are various ways in which an IWB system may accept information captured at one or more remote IWB systems. In one embodiment, IWB system 200 may connect to IWB system 250 over a LAN or WAN using a shared message service (compliant with the Java Message Server (JMS) specification). Each stroke captured from a remote or local IWB system can be posted to a "topic" at the same channel or JMS, and all connected devices subscribing to the topic receive messages. In this manner, any strokes published to a channel are received by all IWB systems. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are many systems for sharing information over a LAN or WAN and that there are a variety of means for achieving sharing of information.

As described above, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, in response to a successful login at the IWB system, actions are automatically performed using information created and stored prior to the login. For IWB systems participating in a collaborative session, the information created and stored prior to login may include information determined at the IWB system or captured locally (e.g., digital information determined at the IWB system, information captured by devices local to the IWB system), and may also include information received from other IWB systems participating in the collaborative session prior to login (e.g., digital information and captured information received from remote IWB systems participating in the collaborative session). For example, when a user successfully logs into IWB system 200, in response to the login, controller 204 may determine and initiate an action using content 212 (or portions thereof) stored locally by controller 204 prior to the login. In one embodiment, the action may include saving previously stored content 212 to an account corresponding to the login, where the account may be stored on server 116 coupled to IWB system 200 via communication network 110.

Although only two IWB systems are shown in FIG. 2, this is not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention. Any number of IWB systems may be involved in a collaborative session. It is also possible that an IWB system may involve multiple separate collaborative sessions simultaneously. For example, in FIG. 2, IWB system 200 is involved in a collaborative session with IWB system 250. Concurrent with this session, IWB system 200 may also involve a separate collaborative session with a third IWB system (not shown), where IWB system 250 is not participating in that separate session.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified flowchart 300 depicting a process performed by an IWB system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process illustrated in FIG. 3 may be performed by one or more components of an IWB system, such as a controller of the IWB system. The processing may be performed using software (e.g., code, instructions, programs) executed by a processor of the controller, hardware of the controller, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the software executed by the controller may be stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium.

The process shown in fig. 3 is divided into a set of steps 330 corresponding to a process performed independently of the login and a set of steps 340 corresponding to a process performed in response to the login. For purposes of simplicity, it is assumed for the process shown in FIG. 3 that the IWB system performing the process is not involved in any collaborative session. The steps illustrated in fig. 3 or the particular series of processing steps illustrated in fig. 3 are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention. Other or different processing steps may be performed in alternative embodiments. One or more of the steps shown in fig. 3 may be performed in parallel or may be performed in a sequential manner.

As shown in FIG. 3, a controller of an IWB system may receive information captured by a write capture system of the IWB system (step 302). The controller may then perform processing to determine digital information corresponding to the information received at 302 (step 304). In one embodiment, the processing at 304 may include determining stroke information for information received from the write capture system and then determining digital information for the stroke information. In an alternative embodiment, the controller may determine the digital information directly from the information received at 302. In one embodiment, the digital information determined at 304 reflects writing made on the surface of the IWB system. For example, if a user writes a "W" on the surface of the IWB system, a digital representation of "W" is determined at 304.

The controller may then generate a signal (e.g., a video signal) that includes the digital information determined at 304 (step 306). Various different formats may be used to generate the video signal. The format may be a format that enables output by a projector of the IWB system. The signal generated at 306 may be transmitted to a projector of the IWB system and the projector may project the signal onto a display surface of the IWB system (step 308) such that the digital information may be viewed by a user of the IWB system. In this manner, information written by a user at the IWB system is converted to digital information and output to a surface of the IWB system.

The controller may also optionally receive information (e.g., video, audio, images, etc.) captured by one or more devices of the IWB system (step 310). The controller may store the digital information determined at 304 and the information received at 310 locally (step 312). Information may be stored anonymously (i.e., not associated with any particular user account) on the local file system as a standard file. In one embodiment, the information is stored in a temporary storage location and is not associated with any user. If no user is logged in, the locally stored information may be erased after some event (possibly a timeout or an action such as selecting "clear" from a menu) and thus no longer available. Of course, if someone logs in (as described below with reference to step 314), then this information can be used to initiate an action. When using an IWB system, a controller of the IWB system may continue to perform step 330 regardless of whether one or more users have logged into the IWB system. The frequency with which these steps are performed may be time-based (e.g., periodically) and/or based on the level of activity or a combination of both.

At some point in time, a user may log into the IWB system (step 314). The controller then determines an action to be automatically performed in response to the login at 314 (step 316). In one embodiment, the actions to be performed in response to a login may be preconfigured for the IWB system. For example, in one embodiment, for each login, the action may be to determine an account corresponding to the login based on the received information as part of the login process, and store the information (or portion thereof) created prior to the login and stored in 312 to the memory associated with the determined account.

In an alternative embodiment, the controller may use information associated with the login at 314 to determine the action to be performed as part of the processing performed at 316. In one such embodiment, the controller may access information stored for a plurality of users, where for each user, the stored information includes a set of one or more actions indicating that the user is to be performed in response to logging into the IWB system. In one embodiment, the information for multiple users may be stored locally by the controller. In another embodiment, information for a plurality of users determining actions to perform in response to user logins may be stored on a server (e.g., server 116 of FIG. 1) and accessed by a controller via a communication network (e.g., communication network 110).

Fig. 4 shows an example of information that the controller uses to determine an action to perform in response to a login. As shown, this information may include information 402 identifying multiple users and information 404 identifying, for each user, a set of one or more actions to be performed when the user logs into the IWB system. The actions performed for one user may be the same or different than the actions performed for another user. In one embodiment, the additional information 406 may be associated with information identifying an action to be performed. The additional information 406 may include information for performing an action. For example, the additional information 406 associated with the user may identify an email address, a preferred file format, etc. to be used to perform the action. As part of the processing performed at 316, a controller of the IWB system may use the login-related information received at 314 to determine a user that has logged into the IWB system and then use action information associated with the user to determine a set of one or more actions to perform in response to the user logging in. Additional information associated with the user or the action may be used to perform the action.

The controller may then initiate or cause the action determined at 316 to be performed using the information stored at 312 (step 318). In this way, the action is automatically performed in response to the login. At login, the action is performed without requiring any input or interaction by the user who has logged into the IWB system. Further, this action is performed using information that has been created and stored prior to the user logging into the IWB system.

FIG. 5 shows a simplified flowchart 500 describing the processing performed by an IWB system participating in a collaborative session with another IWB system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process illustrated in FIG. 5 may be performed by one or more components of an IWB system, such as a controller of the IWB system. The processing may be performed using software (e.g., code, instructions, programs) executed by a processor of the controller, hardware of the controller, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the software executed by the controller may be stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium.

The process shown in fig. 5 is divided into a set of steps 530 corresponding to a process performed independently of the login and a set of steps 540 corresponding to a process performed in response to the login. An IWB system performing the process of FIG. 5 may participate in a collaborative session with one or more remote IWB systems. The steps illustrated in fig. 5 or the particular series of processing steps illustrated in fig. 5 are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention. Other or different processing steps may be performed in alternative embodiments. One or more of the steps shown in fig. 5 may be performed in parallel or may be performed in a sequential manner.

As shown in FIG. 5, a controller of an IWB system (a local IWB system) may receive information captured by a write capture system of the IWB system (step 502). The controller may then perform processing to determine digital information corresponding to the information received at 502 (step 504). In one embodiment, the processing at 504 may include determining stroke information for information received from the write capture system and then determining digital information for the stroke information. In an alternative embodiment, the controller may determine the digital information directly from the information received at 502. In one embodiment, the digital information determined at 504 reflects the writing that was made on the surface of the IWB system. For example, if a user writes a "W" on the surface of the IWB system, a digital representation of the "W" is determined at 504.

The local IWB system may also receive digital information from remote IWB systems participating in the collaborative session (step 513). The digital information received from the remote IWB system may correspond to input provided by a user using a writing instrument local to the IWB system. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, IWB system 200 may receive numerical information corresponding to the letter "N" written by user 256 at remote IWB system 250.

The controller of the local IWB system may then generate a signal (e.g., a video signal) that includes the digital information determined at 504 and the digital information received from the remote IWB system at 513 (step 506). Various different formats may be used to generate the signal. The format may be a format that enables output by a projector of the local IWB system. The signal generated at 506 may be transmitted to a projector of the IWB system and the projector may project the signal onto a display surface of the local IWB system (step 508) so that the digital information may be viewed by a user of the local IWB system. In this manner, information written by the user at the local IWB system and information written at the remote IWB system is output to the surface of the local IWB system.

The controller of the local IWB system may also optionally receive information (e.g., video, audio, images, etc.) captured by one or more devices of the local IWB system (step 510). The controller may optionally receive information captured at a device of the remote IWB system as part of 513.

The controller may store locally the digital information determined at 504, the information received at 510, and/or the information received from the remote IWB system at 513 (step 512). When using an IWB system, a controller of the IWB system may continue to perform step 530 regardless of whether one or more users have logged into the IWB system. The frequency with which these steps are performed may be time-based (e.g., periodically) and/or based on the level of activity or a combination of both.

At some point in time, a user may log into the IWB system (step 514). The controller then determines an action to be automatically performed in response to the login at 514 (step 516). In one embodiment, the actions to be performed in response to a login may be preconfigured for the IWB system. For example, in one embodiment, for each login, the action may be to determine an account corresponding to the login based on the received information as part of the login process in 514, and store the information (or portions thereof) created prior to the login and stored in 512 to the determined account.

In an alternative embodiment, the controller may use information associated with the login at 514 to determine the action to be performed as part of the processing performed at 516. In one such embodiment, the controller may access information stored for a plurality of users, and for each user, a set of one or more actions to be performed in response to the user logging into the IWB system. For example, in one embodiment, the information shown in FIG. 4 may be used to determine one or more actions to perform for the login at 514. The actions performed for one user may be the same or different than the actions performed for another user. As part of the processing performed in 516, a controller of the local IWB system may use the login-related information received at 514 to determine a user that has logged into the IWB system and then use the information shown in FIG. 4 to determine a set of one or more actions to perform in response to the user login.

The controller may then initiate or cause the action determined at 516 to be performed using the information determined at 512 (step 518). In this way, the action is automatically performed in response to the login. At login, the action is performed without requiring any input or interaction by the user who has logged into the IWB system. Further, the action is performed using information created and stored prior to the user logging into the IWB system.

The IWB system is usually fixed in a room and available to anyone. In order to use IWB systems as easily as possible for a maximum number of people, these systems can be used without login. Enabling the creation of content without logging in (i.e., anonymously) and then performing one or more actions in response to the logging in increases the availability of systems such as IWB systems. For example, any user may be able to walk in front of the display surface of the IWB system and begin creating charts or drawings or writing on the whiteboard of the IWB system without logging in. This feature of being able to use the IWB system without logging in makes the IWB system more available to a larger number of people, especially those who are unfamiliar with the electronic whiteboard. A user who begins to create content for a value on such a system may later decide that a chart or drawing needs to be saved to the user's account. Embodiments of the present invention enable this saving to be performed automatically in response to a user login. Accordingly, if a user wants to save a newly created document, he/she can log into the IWB system and the information cached locally prior to logging in may be automatically uploaded and saved to the server and associated with the user account. In one embodiment, the process of logging into the IWB system automatically creates a new document on the server under the user's account, including drawing content created by the user using the IWB system prior to logging in.

Various different use cases may be applied to the embodiments of the present invention. For example, according to one use case, novice user N may decide to use the IWB system because the IWB system is easy to use. An experienced user E with an existing IWB system account may also work with user N in the room. User N may create some long-term value of content and decide that he/she wants to save the content. User N may take his own cell phone to capture a photo of the content, then open an email application, create an email and attach the captured photo to the email, and then send the email to himself. However, an experienced user E with an existing IWB system account may simply log into the IWB system, and this automatically causes actions to be performed such that the created content is stored and accessible under the user E's account. User E may then access his own account and access stored content via the notebook (e.g., using a web browser).

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a computer system 600 that may be used to implement an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the computer system 600 may be used to implement the controller 106 described above and shown in FIG. 1. As shown in fig. 6, computer system 600 includes a processor 602 that communicates with a number of peripheral subsystems via a bus subsystem 604. These peripheral subsystems may include a storage subsystem 606 (including a memory subsystem 608 and a file storage subsystem 610), a user interface input device 612, a user interface output device 614, and a network interface subsystem 616.

Bus subsystem 604 provides a mechanism for enabling the various components and subsystems of computer system 600 to communicate with one another as desired. Although bus subsystem 604 is shown schematically as a single bus, alternative embodiments of the bus subsystem may utilize multiple buses.

Network interface subsystem 616 provides an interface to other computer systems, networks, and memory. Network interface subsystem 616 serves as an interface for computer system 600 to receive data from, and to transmit data to, other systems. For example, network interface subsystem 616 of an IWB system may enable a controller to communicate with other remote IWB systems via a communication network such as the Internet.

The user interface input devices 612 may include a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, trackpad, or graphics pad, a scanner, a barcode scanner, a touch screen integrated into a display, an input device such as a voice recognition system, a microphone, and other types of input devices. In general, use of the term "input device" is intended to include all possible types of devices and mechanisms for inputting information to computer system 600.

User interface output devices 614 may include a display subsystem, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a non-visual display such as an audio output device, among others. The display subsystem may be a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), a flat panel device such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), or a projection device. In general, use of the term "output device" is intended to include all possible types of devices and mechanisms for outputting information from computer system 600.

Storage subsystem 606 provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing the basic programming and data structures that provide the functionality of the present invention. Software (programs, code modules, instructions) that when executed by a processor provide the functionality of the present invention may be stored in storage subsystem 606. These software modules or instructions may be executed by processor 602. The storage subsystem 606 may also provide a repository for storing data used in accordance with the present invention. Storage subsystem 606 may include a memory subsystem 608 and a file/disk storage subsystem 610.

Memory subsystem 608 may include a number of memories including a main Random Access Memory (RAM)618 for storing instructions and data during program execution and a Read Only Memory (ROM)620 in which fixed instructions are stored. File storage subsystem 610 provides non-transitory persistent (non-volatile) memory for program and data files, and may include a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive along with associated removable media, a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM) drive, an optical drive, removable media cartridges, and other like storage media.

Computer system 600 may be various types of computer systems including a personal computer, a telephone, a portable computer, a workstation, a network computer, or any other data processing system. Because of the ever-changing nature of computers and networks, the description of computer system 600 depicted in FIG. 6 is intended only as a specific example for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the computer system. Many other configurations having more or fewer components than the system shown in fig. 6 may also be used.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been described, various modifications, substitutions, alternative constructions, and equivalents are also included within the scope of the present invention. The above teachings may also be applied to any system that includes a processor that can be booted or rebooted. For example, although the above embodiments have been described using an IWB system as an example, this is not intended to be limiting. The teachings described above and recited in the claims may also be implemented by other computing systems that allow for logging in and that allow for the creation of content prior to logging in. In response to the login, one or more actions using the content created prior to the login may be automatically initiated.

Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to operation in a particular data processing environment, but may operate in multiple data processing environments. Additionally, although embodiments of the present invention have been described using a particular series of transactions and steps, this is not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

Further, although embodiments of the invention have been described using a particular combination of hardware and software, it should be appreciated that other combinations of hardware and software are also within the scope of the invention. Embodiments of the invention may be implemented solely in hardware or solely in software or by a combination of both.

The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, be evident that additions, subtractions, deletions, and other modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for performing an action in response to logging onto a computer, comprising a display surface for receiving written information, a memory, and a processor for logging a user into the system,

the processor is configured to:

analyzing the written information and generating corresponding digital information before logging in the system; and

causing, in response to the login, an action to be performed using the digital information generated prior to the login; wherein,

the action is performed in response to a login without requiring any interaction by a user who has logged into the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein actions include saving the digital information generated prior to login to an account corresponding to the login.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the action to be performed based on information associated with the login.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

receiving content created prior to login using a second system remote from the system; and

the action is caused to be performed using the content received from the second system.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a projector for projecting digital information onto a display surface.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more devices for capturing audio or video information prior to login,

the processor is configured to perform an action using the audio or video information captured by the one or more devices.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reader for reading a barcode or a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag to enable login.

8. A method of performing an action in response to logging into a computer, comprising:

receiving, at a first system, writing information provided at a display surface;

before logging in the first system, generating digital information corresponding to the written information in the first system; and

in response to a login at the first system, causing an action to be performed by the first system using the digital information generated prior to the login; wherein,

the action is performed in response to a login without requiring any interaction by a user who has logged in to the first system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the action comprises saving the digital information generated prior to login to an account corresponding to the login.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining an action to be performed based on information associated with the login.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving content created prior to login using a second system from the second system remote from the first system,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

causing the action to be performed includes performing the action using content received from the second system.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

outputting digital information on the display surface of the first system.